We're an eBay affiliate and may be compensated on purchases made through clicks.

Marilyn Monroe - real or not

I am going to an auction tomorrow and there is a lot of autographed photos including this signed photo. Now I am no expect on Miss Monroe and have scanned the web to see if I can find this photo. I have been unsuccessful so....Has anyone seen this signed photo before and if so, do you think this is a pre-print. Any help would be appreciated.

0 members like this

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Steve Cyrkin, Admin on November 16, 2023 at 2:24pm

I'm confident that's not real. Normally you need a larger photo but it is obvious to me it's not good.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Pauline Berry on November 16, 2023 at 2:32pm

Hello

And thanks for the heads up Eric.

Was there such a thing as the autopen signing for Monroe? I know many other stars had a mechanical copier which did these not quite right autos.

I haven't heard of them for years? I hope it wasn't a figment of my imagination!?

This would be one if they exist for Monroe. It is very similar to her signature, but heavy and slightly jagged unlike her fast spidery scrawl.

Also she very rare signed on photos with no dedication. This may be a mass produced Fox fan product. She got incredible mail from the very early 50s and her near earliest bit part appearances.

Risky item, and photographed under plastic I gather.

I doubt this is hand signed. Certainly not a secretarial either.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Martin Slack on November 16, 2023 at 2:39pm

Thanks Pauline and Steve.

When I look at it tomorrow, I will be very surprised if I can see ink under the light.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Eric Keith Longo on November 16, 2023 at 2:45pm

Thank you for responding Pauline. :-)

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Pauline Berry on November 16, 2023 at 2:51pm

My pleasure!

Looking into autopens, it really fits the profile. Solid, jagged or "nervous" as described regarding autopen.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autopen

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Eric Keith Longo on November 16, 2023 at 2:54pm

Yes, and indeed available at the time. The color of the signature does resemble "Autopen blue" which came stock with the machine, so it is certainly possible. Perhaps the earlier Autopen signatures were not producing the stroke variation seen by 1960. Garland's 1960 Fan Club 5x7 is Autopenned and jagged up close but has some fast thin lines unlike this Monroe.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Pauline Berry on November 16, 2023 at 3:00pm

Interesting and I haven't seen a Monroe autopen before.

The more I look, the more it looks to be. Unless it's a distortion from the low quality photo, the triple pointed loops on M of the Marilyn have never had any disruption like those sideways ones. Very machine like!